Invalid-table



(No Model.)

J, H. CHANDLER.

INVALID TABLE- No. 601,945. Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

' NITED STATES .lNVALlD-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 601,945, dated April 5, 1898.

Application filed March 2, 1896. Serial No. 581,435; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES H. CHANDLER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Invalid-Tables, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, is a specification.

This invention relates to adjustable tables particularly adapted for use by invalids; and the invention has for its object the production of a table which can be quickly and easily secured to the side rail of a bed and which may be swung over the bed or away therefrom, as desired.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table and its support embodying my invention, par tially broken out to save space, attached to the side rail of a bed. Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation of the attaching mechanism. Fig. ,3 is a top or plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view, detached, of a shelf adapted to be secured to the under side of the table.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the device is shown as attached to a wooden side rail 1 of the bed, and in Fig. 2 an angle-iron rail R is shown to more clearly illustrate the manner of attaching my invention to either form of bed. The clamping or attaching mechanism comprises an upright bracket 4, having'outwardly-extended perforated ears 18 and 19, the latter being preferably provided with a set-screw 3O for a purpose to be described. The bracket has at its upper end extended in the opposite direction from the ear 18 and also at right angles thereto a clamping member 23, adapthaving a suitable handpiece 6, the upper end of said rod carrying a clamping-head 10, the top of which .may have a facing of rubber or other suitable material, if desired.

When the device is applied to a wooden side rail, as in Figs. 1 and 3, the rail is inserted between the fixed clamping member 23 and the movable member 10, and upon rotation of the threaded rod 3 the bracket 4. will be securely clamped to the rail, the bracket and ears 18 19 being on the outer side thereof.

Referring now to Fig. 2, if it is desired to attach the bracket to a rail R of angle-iron, as on an iron bed, I provide a follower-block 9, having in its lower end preferably a recess to receive the movable clamping member 10, the upper end of the follower bearing againstthe under side of the horizontal portion of the rail, the vertical portion of the latter being held between the upper end of the follower and the back of the bracket 4.

To prevent accidental displacement of the follower, I extend therethrough a bolt 11, the head 15 of which enters a countersunk slot 16 in the bracket, a clamping-nut 13 on the threaded rear end of the rod 11 serving to securely clamp the follower to the bracket after the movable clamping member 10 has been adjusted to tightly hold the side rail against the fixed clamp member 23.

A standard, herein shown as a curved cylindrical bar 20, is adapted to be extended through the aperture in the ears 18 19 and to rotate therein, a collar 60, securely held in place on the standard by a set-screw 22, resting on the ear 18 and maintaining the support at the desired height, If desired, the standardcan be held from rotation in the cars by means of the set-screw 30 in the collar 19.

The curved upper end of the standard 20 is of such length and sweep as to permit theupper end of the standard to swing over the center of an ordinary bed, if desired. At its upper end the standard is provided with a horizontal annular enlargement 27, on which rests the central portion of a spider 29, secured to the under. side of the table or shelf T, said spider being provided with a depending-spindle 26, which is extended through a suitable vertical hole in the end of the standard and on which the table may rotate.

If desired, a nut may be applied to the lower end of the bolt to prevent rotation of the table thereon. o The table may be provided with a raised rim T, if desired, to prevent objects thereon from accidentally sliding off.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a perspective detail of a shelf adapted to be secured to the under the table can be prevented by means of the set-screw 30.

It will be obvious that the mere removal of the follower 9 adapts the clamping mechanism for use with a wooden bed, so that my invention is equally applicable to iron or wooden beds.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, attaching means, including a bracket having a fixed clamping member at one end and a foot at the other end, a movable clamping member mounted on said foot, a follower adapted to engage the under side of a bedrail, means to detachably connect the follower with and to clamp it upon the bracket when vertically adjusted, and a table-supporting standard carried by the bracket, the fixed clamp member bearing against the bed-rail while the movable member acts to hold the follower in adjusted vertical position, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, attaching means, including a longitudinallyslotted bracket having a laterally-extended clamping member rigidly mounted thereon, a movable clamping member also mounted on the bracket, a follower engaged by said movable member, the bed-rail being held between said follower and the fixedclamping member, a headed bolt extended through the follower and the slot in the bracket, and a locking-n ut on said bolt, to firmly secure the follower to the bracket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I, JAMES H. CHAND- LER, have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,on this 23d dayof November,A.D.18E)5.

JAMES II. CHANDLER.

lVitnesses:

JOHN H. FRENCH, ARTHUR E. LOOKHART. 

